Although Camus' intentions with The Stranger may not have been to make a comment on existentialism, it is hard to deny the parallels between that ideology and Meursault’s progression through the story. As a character, Meursault struggles with judgement and purpose up until his moment with the lawyer, when his lack of feelings end up costing him his life. Meursault’s sudden burst of anger is both uncharacteristic and defining. To me, this self actualization (or lack thereof?) is when Meursault had committed himself fully to existentialism as well as death.
As Meursault's jail time went on, he began to remove himself from what little human pleasures he had (cigarettes, women, etc). It seems that the only thing Meursault cared about afterwards was his imminent death. In this sense, Meursault decided that the world’s pointlessness far outweighed the existentialist belief that life is worth living simply to live. Unlike Sisyphus, Meursault took no pleasure in the struggle or tragedy of living. Realizing that true free will is impossible in today’s society, Meursault figured death was the only way out.
With that thought, how can any true existentialist be living? If almost every human survival mechanism is predicated on social interaction, are existentialists trying to gain free will by giving up their will for life?
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